Hutchison, Williamson, Carona, Baselice, Sharp, and Grisham

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, asked by Texas Monthly about running for governor: "Well, I have been talking to people quietly about what I hope I can do, what I'd like to be able to do. I haven't made a commitment in any way because it's just too early — it's too early to be gearing up. I don't want to peak in 2007 for a 2010 race. Would I like to do it? Yes. A lot of things have to happen to make it a reality. You can't plan that far ahead with certainty."

Transportation Commissioner Ric Williamson on the state's highway troubles: "The problem is easily quantifiable and the dollar figures are staggering... the problem is so tremendous that we're not prepared [politically] to talk about it."

Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, on the need to simplify transportation policy issues to make them understandable to a public that's not tuned in: "They don't know what manifest destiny is, and they think Marco Polo is just another illegal immigrant."

Republican pollster Mike Baselice, talking about which Democratic presidential candidate would be better for down-ballot Republicans: "It really doesn't matter at the end of the day... whether it's Hillary [Clinton] rather than [John] Edwards."

Former Comptroller John Sharp, talking to the Austin American-Statesman about a difference of opinion between him and Rep. Patrick Rose, D-Dripping Springs: "If you get mad at a politician every time they tell you one thing and do something else, you would die of a heart attack in short order."

Terry Grisham, executive administrator at the Tarrant County Sheriff's Department, telling The Dallas Morning News that only non-dangerous inmates are working on road projects there: "If they take off running, we will wave at them."